Study of the tracking of FHSS signal over AWGN channel

Abstract

Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS) communications utilizes a pseudo random code to spread the bandwidth of the data being transmitted over a much wider range than is required by the data. Due to the pseudo random nature of the carriers selected for transmission, the spreading and dispreading process must occur simultaneously to recover the transmitted data signal. This requires the receiver have knowledge about the instant the transmitter began transmitting and the propagation delay between the two. However, in real world systems, this information is unavailable to the receiver. The paper utilizes MATLAB Simulink to demonstrate a method of synchronizing the code clock at the receiver with the code clock at the transmitter. This fine alignment process is known as code tracking.